After graduating from high school in 1870, Clem tried to enter the United States Military Academy but failed the entrance exam. “Popular legend claims that Clem was “Johnny Shiloh”, a drummer boy at the Battle of Shiloh who had his drum shattered by shrapnel.”, though the 22nd Michigan was not mustered until after the Battle of Shiloh. He is known to hostory as the "Drummer Boy of Chickamauga" and also "Johnny Shiloh." After the battle, the soldiers nicknamed Clem “Johnny Shiloh”.” ... Carte of Sergeant John Clem armed with a rifle and bayonet . Popular legend suggests that Clem took part in the battle of Shiloh, nearly losing his life when a shell fragment crashed through his drum, knocking him unconscious. Newspapers featured the account of a brave little drummer boy whose drum was wrecked by an artillery blast. Clem at Shiloh. At 12 years old he became the youngest person ever promoted to a non-commissioned officer rank. A relative served in the 24th OVI at Cheat Mountain when the two regiments were camped near one another. Some deny Johnny Clem was even at Shiloh, because the 22nd Michigan was not formed until Aug. 29, 1862 and deployed in September 1862. Clem's regiment the 3rd OVI was in Huntsville, Alabama, during the Battle of Shiloh. With Brian Keith, Kevin Corcoran, Darryl Hickman, Skip Homeier. John Clem fought at Perryville, Murfreesboro, Kennesaw and Atlanta. I was talking with a client of mine this evening, and he mentioned that his 7-year-old son is showing some interest in the Civil War, so I told him about John "Johnny Shiloh" Clem. Note that Newark researcher E. Chris Evans, the head of the John L. Clem Statue Committee, has researched the story of "Johnny Shiloh." Shiloh was fought April 6-7, 1862. “Johnny Shiloh” There are different reports on Clem’s involvement in the Battle of Shiloh and his early nickname “Johnny Shiloh.” In a 1915 New York Times article discussing his retirement, it states this legend as fact. Plot. Based on real life "boy solider" Johnny Clem, a young boy joins the … It was actually the battle of Chickamauga in which Clem distinguished himself and nearly got captured. Child soldier John Clem, c. 1863. In spring 1861, John Joseph Klem (he later changed the spelling of his last name) ran away from his Newark home at age 9 and tried to enlist with the 3rd Ohio Regiment. Clem spent his youth working on the family farm and attending school in Newark. John became well known as the "Drummer Boy of Shiloh," but he and his regiment were not in that battle. John Joseph Klem, often refered to as Johnny Clem, was probably the most famous boy who served in the Civil War, if not the most famous boy in American history. He was … He was the son of Roman and Magdalene Klem. Johnny Clem’s extraordinary story is summarized here and hopefully you may find it as fascinating as I did. When the Blue Raiders are called into Union service at the start of the American Civil War, their mascot drummer boy, John Clem defies his father's wishes and smuggles himself on the train carrying the troops to camp. On May 13, 1937, Ohio native Johnny Clem, also known as the "Drummer Boy of Chickamauga," died in San Antonio, Texas. Johnny Shiloh is a 1963 television film that originally aired as two episodes of The Wonderful World of Disney based on the life of John Clem, who was called "Johnny Shiloh".. In 1861, John Lincoln Clem ran from his Newark Ohio home at age 9 to fight with the Union Army, eventually joining the 22nd Michigan as mascot and drummer boy. Tragedy struck Clem's life at age nine, when his mother was killed by a train while crossing railroad tracks. Directed by James Neilson. 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